Narshinh Mehta 1932 the first Gujarati film poster

Gujarati cinema, also known as Gollywood or Dhollywood, is the

Gujarati language Gujarati (; gu, ગુજરાતી, Gujarātī, translit-std=ISO, label=Gujarati script, ) is an Indo-Aryan language native to the Indian state of Gujarat and spoken predominantly by the Gujarati people. Gujarati is descended from Old G ...

film industry. It is one of the major regional and vernacular film industries of the

cinema of India The Cinema of India consists of motion pictures produced in India, which had a large effect on world cinema since the late 20th century. Major centers of film production across the country include Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Ko ...

, having produced more than one thousand films since its inception. During the silent film era, many individuals in the industry were Gujaratis. The language-associated industry dates back to 1932, when the first Gujarati

talkie A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

, ''

Narsinh Mehta Narsinh Mehta, also known as Narsinh Bhagat, was a 15th-century poet-saint of Gujarat, India, honored as the first poet, or ''Adi Kavi,'' of the Gujarati language. Narsinh Mehta is member of Nagar Brahman community. Narsinh became a devotee of K ...

'', was released. Until the

independence of India The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events with the ultimate aim of ending British rule in India. It lasted from 1857 to 1947. The first nationalistic revolutionary movement for Indian independence emerged from Bengal. ...

in 1947, only twelve Gujarati films were produced. There was a spurt in film production in the 1940s focused on saint, sati or

dacoit Dacoity is a term used for "banditry" in the Indian subcontinent. The spelling is the anglicised version of the Hindi word ''daaku''; "dacoit" is a colloquial Indian English word with this meaning and it appears in the ''Glossary of Colloquial ...

stories as well as

mythology Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narra ...

and folktales. In the 1950s–1960s, the trend continued with the addition of films on literary works. In the 1970s, the

Government of Gujarat The Government of Gujarat, also known as Gujarat Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Gujarat and its 33 districts. It consists of an executive of the legislators appointed by the Governor of Gujarat, a judiciar ...

announced a

tax exemption Tax exemption is the reduction or removal of a liability to make a compulsory payment that would otherwise be imposed by a ruling power upon persons, property, income, or transactions. Tax-exempt status may provide complete relief from taxes, redu ...

and subsidies which resulted in an increase in the number of films, but the quality declined. After flourishing through the 1960s–1980s, the industry saw a decline through 2000 when the number of new films dropped below twenty. The Gujarat state government announced a tax exemption again in 2005 which lasted until 2017. The industry has been partially revived in the 2010s due first to rural demand, and later to an influx of new technology and urban subjects in films. The state government announced a policy of incentives in 2016.

Etymology

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" ...

'', the

sobriquet A sobriquet ( ), or soubriquet, is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another, that is descriptive. A sobriquet is distinct from a pseudonym, as it is typically a familiar name used in place of a real name, without the need of expla ...

for the Hindi language film industry based in

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the secon ...

(then called Bombay), inspired the nickname ''Dhollywood'' for the Gujarati film industry due to its profuse use of the

dhol Dhol (IPA: ) can refer to any one of a number of similar types of double-headed drum widely used, with regional variations, throughout the Indian subcontinent. Its range of distribution in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan primarily includes nort ...

, a double-headed drum. It is also referred to as ''Gollywood'', a

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordsGujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

and Bollywood.

History

Silent film era (1913–1931)

Even before the advent of

talkies A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

there were several silent films closely related to the

Gujarati people The Gujarati people or Gujaratis, are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who reside in or can trace their ancestry or heritage to the present-day western Indian state of Gujarat. They primarily speak Gujarati, an Indo-Aryan language. While ...

and their culture, and many directors, producers and actors who were Gujarati and

Parsi Parsis () or Parsees are an ethnoreligious group of the Indian subcontinent adhering to Zoroastrianism. They are descended from Persians who migrated to Medieval India during and after the Arab conquest of Iran (part of the early Muslim conq ...

. Between 1913 and 1931 there were twenty leading film company and studios owned by Gujaratis—mostly in

Bombay Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' fin ...

(now

)—and at least forty-four leading Gujarati directors. The silent film ''

Bilwamangal ''Bilwamangal'' (pronounced ), also known as ''Bhagat Soordas'', is a 1919 Indian black-and-white silent film directed by Rustomji Dhotiwala, based on a story by Champshi Udeshi about the medieval Hindu devotional poet Bilwamangala (also ident ...

'' (also called ''Bhagat Soordas'', 1919) was directed by Rustomji Dhotiwala, a Parsi Gujarati, based on a story by Gujarati writer Champshi Udeshi. This full-length (132 minutes, ) film was produced by

Elphinstone Bioscope Company Madan Theatre Company, also known as Madan Theatres Limited or Madan Theatres in short, was a film production company founded by Jamshedji Framji Madan, one of the pioneers of Indian Cinema. History Madan, a young Parsi businessman, who had expe ...

of Calcutta (now

Kolkata Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fou ...

), and is considered

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

. Suchet Singh established the Oriental Film Manufacturing Company of Bombay with the help of

Hajimahamad Allarakha Haji Mohammed Allarakha Shivji (13 December 1878 – 21 January 1921), also spelled Hajji Mohammad Alarakhiya, was a Gujarati literary journalist and author. Biography Haji Mohammed Allarakha Shivji was born on 13 December 1878 in Bombay to a K ...

, an editor of the popular Gujarati magazine ''Visami Sadi'', in 1919. The silent film ''Narsinh Mehta'' (1920), produced by Oriental, featured the Gujarati song ''"

Vaishnav Jan To "Vaishnava Jana To" ''(meaning:- Call those people Vaishnav or The devotee of Vishnu)'' is a Hindu bhajan, written in the 15th century by the poet Narsinh Mehta in the Gujarati language. The poem speaks about the life, ideals and mentality of a Va ...

"'', which was sung by the audience and musicians in cinema halls with relevant scenes on screen.

Dwarkadas Sampat Kohinoor Film Company was an Indian film studio established in 1918 by Dwarkadas Sampat (1884-1958). Along with Ranjit Movietone and the Imperial Film Company it was the largest movie studio when Indian talkies began in the 1930s. Kohinoor didn ...

, an early Gujarati film producer, began his involvement with the film industry in

Rajkot Rajkot () is the fourth-largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat after Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat, and is in the centre of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Rajkot is the 35th-largest metropolitan area in India, with a population ...

. He bought a projector and held film shows. He later established Patankar Friends & Company with

S. N. Patankar Sadashiv Narayan Patankar (?-1941) was an Indian producer, director, and cameraman. Referred to as "one of the early pioneers of Indian Cinema", his influence is stated to be equal to that of Dadasaheb Phalke. He was one of a wide range of people ...

for film productions. ''Raja Sriyal'' was the company's first film, but it was not released due to a defective print. ''Kach-Devyani'' (1920), directed by Patankar, featured garba dancing, marking the first appearance of Gujarati culture in films. Sampat later founded the

Kohinoor Film Company Kohinoor Film Company was an Indian film studio established in 1918 by Dwarkadas Sampat (1884-1958). Along with Ranjit Movietone and the Imperial Film Company it was the largest movie studio when Indian talkies began in the 1930s. Kohinoor did ...

. Kohinoor's first film, ''Sati Parvati'' (1920), which also depicted Gujarati culture, was directed by Vishnupant Divekar and featured Prabha, an actress from

, in the lead role of

Parvati Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...

. ''

Bhakta Vidur ''Bhakta Vidur'' ( hi, भक्त विदुर, "Devotion of Vidura") is a 1921 silent Indian film directed by Kanjibhai Rathod and made under Kohinoor Film Company banner. In this film the Hindu mythological character Vidura was moulded ...

'' (1921), directed by

Kanjibhai Rathod Kanjibhai Rathod was an Indian film director. Early life Kanjibhai Rathod from Maroli village in south Gujarat, was considered the first successful director in Indian cinema. His rise to fame in an era when most people stayed away from films d ...

, was implicitly political: The film featured Sampat in the lead role of

Vidur Vidura (Sanskrit: विदुर, lit. ''skilled'', ''intelligent'' or ''wise''), also known as Kshatri, plays a key role in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is described as the prime minister of the Kuru kingdom and is the paternal uncle o ...

, who donned a Gandhi cap, an allusion to the

Indian independence movement The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events with the ultimate aim of ending British rule in India. It lasted from 1857 to 1947. The first nationalistic revolutionary movement for Indian independence emerged from Bengal ...

led by

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...

. The film had a Gujarati song sung by Vidur's wife, "", () referred to the spinning wheel ('' rentio'') on the flag of the

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British E ...

at that time. It was the first film banned in India by British authorities. It was re-released in 1922 under the title ''Dharm Vijay''. ''Pavagadhnu Patan'' (The Fall of Pavagadh, 1928) was directed by Nagendra Majumdar and produced by Indulal Yagnik. Yagnik was an independence activist who later headed the Mahagujarat movement demanding a separate

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

state. Yagnik produced ten films under various banners. Kohinoor produced many films in the silent film era, including

social problem film A social problem film is a narrative film that integrates a larger social conflict into the individual conflict between its characters. In the context of the United States and of Hollywood, the genre is defined by fictionalized depictions of soci ...

s in a period dominated by mythological films. ''Katorabhar Khoon'' (1920) was its first social film. ''Manorama'' (1924) was directed by

Homi Master Homi Master (?–1949) was an actor-director of early Indian cinema. His work extended from the silent era to the talkie era and up to his death. He produced his best films for Kohinoor Film Company and he has been referred to as "silent cinema' ...

and was based on ''Hridaya Triputi'', an autobiographical poem by the Gujarati poet Kalapi. ''Gul-E-Bakavali'' (1924), written by Mohanlal G. Dave and directed by Rathod, ran successfully for fourteen weeks. Manilal Joshi, an experimental Gujarati director, directed ''Abhimanyu'' (1922), which was produced by the Star Film Company, and later ''Prithivi Vallabh'' based on the novel of the same name by Gujarati author

K. M. Munshi Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi (; 30 December 1887 – 8 February 1971), popularly known by his pen name Ghanshyam Vyas, was an Indian independence movement activist, politician, writer and educationist from Gujarat state. A lawyer by profession, ...

. The Krishna Film Company, established in 1924 and owned by Maneklal Patel, produced forty-four films between 1925 and 1931. The Sharda Film Company was established in 1925, financed by Mayashankar Bhatt and run by Bhogilal Dave and Nanubhai Desai. Bhatt also financed

Dadasaheb Phalke Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (Pronunciation: ̪ʱuɳɖiɾaːd͡ʒ pʰaːɭke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke () (30 April 1870 – 16 February 1944), was an Indian producer-director-screenwriter, known as "the Father of Indian cinema". His de ...

's Hindustan Cinema Film Company.

Early talkies (1932–1947)

Before the 1931 release of the first full-length Indian sound film, ''

Alam Ara ''Alam Ara'' () is a 1931 Indian Hindustani-language historical fantasy film directed and produced by Ardeshir Irani. It revolves on a king and his two wives, Navbahaar and Dilbahaar, who are childless; soon, a ''fakir'' (Muhammad Wazir Khan) ...

'', a short Gujarati sound film, ''Chav Chavno Murabbo'', was released on 4 February 1931 in Bombay. It included the song ''Mane Mankad Karde'' ("A Bug Bites Me"), the first sound in any Indian film. The film was produced by Maneklal Patel, with lyrics and dialogue by Natwar Shyam. The title, literally "Chew Chew's Marmalade", refers to having to chew

marmalade Marmalade is a fruit preserve made from the juice and peel of citrus fruits boiled with sugar and water. The well-known version is made from bitter orange. It is also made from lemons, limes, grapefruits, mandarins, sweet oranges, bergamot ...

to swallow it and probably has no specific connection to the plot. Before the first full-length Gujarati sound film, ''Narsinh Mehta'' (1932), two short Gujarati sound films were released with Hindi talkies. The two-reel short ''Krishna–Sudama'', produced by the Imperial Film Company, was released with Hindi talkie ''Nek Abala''. Another two-reel short, ''Mumbai ni Shethani'' was premiered along with Madan's ''Shirin Farhad'' on 9 January 1932 at Wellington Cinema, Bombay. It was produced by Theatres of Calcutta and was based on the story written by Champshi Udeshi. The film starred Mohan, Miss Sharifa and Surajram and included the Gujarati song ''Fashion ni Fishiari, Juo, Mumbai ni Shethani''. The release of the first full-length Gujarati talkie, ''

'' on 9 April 1932 marks the true beginning of Gujarati cinema. It was directed by

Nanubhai Vakil Nanubhai Vakil (23 May 1902 – 29 December 1980) was a Hindi and Gujarati film director. He was the first to make a Gujarati talkie film with a biopic on the saint Narsinh Mehta in 1932. ''Narsinh Mehta's'' (1932) star cast included the actress ...

, produced by Sagar Movietone, and starred Mohanlala, Marutirao, Master Manhar, and Miss Mehtab. It was of the 'saint' genre and was on the life of the saint

. It was followed in 1932 by ''Sati Savitri'', based on the epic story of

Savitri and Satyavan In Hinduism, Savitri and Satyavan ( sa, सावित्री ''Sāvitrī'' and ''Satyavān'') are a legendary couple, known for Savitri's love and devotion to her husband Satyavan. According to the legend, princess Savitri marries an exiled ...

, and in 1935 by the comedy ''Ghar Jamai'', directed by

. ''Ghar Jamai'' starred: Heera, Jamna, Baby Nurjehan, Amoo, Alimiya, Jamshedji, and Gulam Rasool. It featured a 'resident son-in-law' and his escapades as well as his problematic attitude towards the freedom of women. ''Gunsundari'' was made three times from 1927 to 1948. The film was such a success in its first appearance in 1927, that director

Chandulal Shah Chandulal Jesangbhai Shah (13 April 1898 – 25 November 1975) was a famous director, producer and screenwriter of Indian films, who founded Ranjit Studios in 1929. Early life Shah was born in 1898 in Jamnagar, Gujarat, British India. He stud ...

remade it in 1934. It was remade again in 1948 by Ratilal Punatar. ''Gunsundari'' is the story of a poor Indian woman who is disliked by her husband for her moral stand. The woman finally lands on the street where she meets a person who is just like her—a social outcast. The story ends there. However, the three versions include some changes to reflect their times. There were twelve films released between 1932 and 1940. No Gujarati films were produced in 1933, 1937 or 1938. From 1941 to 1946 there was no production, due to the rationing of raw materials during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

Post-independence (1946–1970)

After the

in 1947, there was a surge in the production of Gujarati films. Twenty-six films were produced in 1948 alone. Between 1946 and 1952, seventy-four films were produced including twenty-seven films related to saint, sati or

stories. These stories were designed to appeal to rural audiences familiar with such subjects. Several films produced during this period were associated with myths or folktales people were familiar with. Vishnukumar M. Vyas directed ''Ranakdevi'' (1946) based on the legend of

Ranakdevi Ranakadevi was a legendary 12th century queen of Khengara, the Chudasama ruler of Saurashtra region of western India. She is mentioned in the bardic tragic romance representing the battle between Chudasama king Khengara and Chaulukya king Jayas ...

Nirupa Roy Nirupa Roy (born Kokila Kishorechandra Bulsara; 4 January 1931 – 13 October 2004) was an Indian actress who had appeared in Hindi films. Noted for her portrayals of tragedy and sorrow, Roy was known for her acting ability, and was uncharitab ...

made her debut as an actress in the film and later succeeded in the Hindi film industry playing the role of a mother in various films. ''Meerabai'' (1946) was a remake of the Hindi film directed by Nanubhai Bhatt starring Nirupa Roy. Punatar directed ''Gunsundari'' (1948) also starring Nirupa Roy. ''Kariyavar'' (1948), directed by

Chaturbhuj Doshi Chaturbhuj Doshi (1894–1969) was a Hindi and Gujarati language, Gujarati writer-director of Indian cinema. He was one of the top Gujarati screenplay writers, who helped script stories for the Punatar productions. He is stated to be one of the l ...

, introduced

Dina Pathak Dina Pathak (née Gandhi; 4 March 1922 – 11 October 2002) was an Indian actress and director of Gujarati theatre and also a film actor. She was an activist and President of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW). A doyenne of Hindi ...

to the film audience. Doshi also directed ''Vevishal'' (1949), an adaptation of the novel of the same name by

Jhaverchand Meghani Jhaverchand or Zaverchand Kalidas Meghani ( – ) was an Indian poet, writer, social reformer and freedom fighter. He is a well-known name in the field of Gujarati literature. He was born in Chotila where the Government College has been rename ...

. Punatar's ''Mangalfera'' (1949) was a remake of the Hindi film ''Shadi'' (1941) produced by Ranjit Movietone. Other popular Gujarati films were ''Vadilona Vanke'' (1948) directed by Ramchandra Thakur; ''Gada no Bel'' (1950) directed by Ratibhai Punatar based on the play by Prabhulal Dwivedi; and '' Leeludi Dharati'' (1968) directed by Vallabh Choksi based on the novel of the same name by

Chunilal Madia Chunilal Madia (12 August 1922 – 29 December 1968) was a Gujarati author from Gujarat, India, primarily known for his novels and short stories set in rural Saurashtra. Recipients of several awards, he is considered one of the leading writers o ...

. ''Liludi Dharati'' was the Gujarati cinema's first colour film. Between 1951 and 1970, there was a decline in film production with only fifty-five films produced during this period. ''Malela Jeev'' (1956) was directed by Manhar Raskapur based on the novel of same name by

Pannalal Patel Pannalal Nanalal Patel (7 May 1912 – 6 April 1989) was an Indian author known for his contributions in Gujarati literature. He wrote more than 20 short story collections, such as ''Sukhdukhna Sathi'' (1940) and ''Vatrakne Kanthe'' (1952), and ...

which was scripted by the novelist himself. Raskapur and producer-actor Champshibhai Nagda produced several films including: ''Jogidas Khuman'' (1948), ''Kahyagaro Kanth'' (1950), ''Kanyadan'' (1951), ''Mulu Manek'' (1955), ''Malela Jeev'' (1956), ''Kadu Makrani'' (1960), '' Mehndi Rang Lagyo'' (1960), ''Jogidas Kuman'' (1962), ''Akhand Saubhagyavati'' (1963) and '' Kalapi'' (1966). ''Akhand Saubhagyavati'' was the first Gujarati film financed by the Film Finance Corporation (now the National Film Development Corporation) and starred

Asha Parekh Asha Parekh (born 2 October 1942) is a retired Indian actress, film director, and producer who appeared in many commercially successful films throughout her career. She was the highest paid actress of her time and was one of the most successful ...

in the lead role. ''

Kanku ''Kanku'' is a 1969 Gujarati social drama film, starring Kishore Bhatt, Kishore Jariwala, Pallavi Mehta, directed by Kantilal Rathod. The film was adapted from Pannalal Patel's short story of the same name. The film won National Film Award for ...

'' (1969), directed by

Kantilal Rathod Kantilal Rathod was an Indian film maker known for his work in Gujarati and Hindi cinema. He directed the 1969 Gujarati film '' Kanku'' which won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Gujarati at the 17th National Film Awards. Biography Bo ...

, was based on the short story by

originally written in 1936 and later expanded into a novel in 1970. ''Kanku'' won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Gujarati at the

17th National Film Awards The 17th National Film Awards were presented by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India to facilitate the best of Indian cinema released in 1969. The ceremony took place at University Centenary Auditorium, Madras on 21 November 1 ...

, and its actress Pallavi Mehta won an award at the

Chicago International Film Festival The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964 by Michael Kutza, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. Its logo is a stark, black and white close up of the comp ...

Sanjeev Kumar Sanjeev Kumar (born Harihar Jethalal Jariwala; 9 July 1938 – 6 November 1985) was an Indian actor. He is well remembered for his versatility and genuine portrayal of his characters. He acted in genres ranging from romantic dramas to thrille ...

, a popular Hindi film actor, acted in: ''Ramat Ramade Ram'' (1964), ''Kalapi'' (1966) and ''Jigar ane Ami'' (1970). ''Jigar ane Ami'' was adapted from the novel of same name by Chunilal Vardhman Shah. ''Vidhata'' (1956), ''Chundadi Chokha'' (1961), ''Ghar Deevdi'' (1961), '' Nandanvan'' (1961), ''Gharni Shobha'' (1963), ''Panetar'' (1965), ''Mare Jaavu Pele Paar'' (1968), ''Bahuroopi'' (1969) and ''Sansarleela'' (1969) were adapted from Gujarati literary works.

Rise and decline (1970–2000)

Mallika Sarabhai in play AKABR directed by Arvind Gaur

Following the Mahagujarat movement, the separate linguistic states of

and

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in India and the second-most populous country subdi ...

were formed from the

Bombay State Bombay State was a large Indian state created at the time of India's Independence, with other regions being added to it in the succeeding years. Bombay Presidency (roughly equating to the present-day Indian state of Maharashtra, excluding So ...

on 1 May 1960. This had a great impact on the Gujarati film industry as Bombay, the centre of film production, fell in Maharashtra. There was a lack of major film production houses and studios in Gujarat resulting in a decline in the quality and number of films. In the 1970s, the

announced subsidies and tax exemptions for Gujarati films resulting in a spurt in film production. A studio was established in

Vadodara Vadodara (), also known as Baroda, is the second largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Vadodara district and is situated on the banks of the Vishwamitri River, from the state capita ...

in 1972. The state policy which benefited producers cost the state in 1981–1982 for the thirty-nine films produced during that period. An entertainment tax exemption of was announced for producers who completed films. This policy resulted in an influx of people interested in monetary benefits who did not have any technical or artistic knowledge, thus the quality of films declined substantially. After 1973 a large number of films were produced focused on deities and

s. In 1980, the tax exemption was reduced to 70% but the remaining 30% was given to producers for assistance in other ways. ''Gunsundarino Gharsansar'' (1972), directed by Govind Saraiya, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Gujarati at the

20th National Film Awards The 20th National Film Awards, presented by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India to felicitate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 1972. With this year, new award category is introduced for the feature films made in Meit ...

. The film was based on the novel '' Saraswatichandra'' and was considered important for its artistry and aesthetic. Feroze A. Sarkar directed ''Janamteep'' (1973) adapted from the novel of same name by Ishwar Petlikar.

Kanti Madia Kanti Madia (or Kanti Madiya) was an Indian actor, director, producer and playwright from Gujarat, India. He established the Natyasampada theatre company, and directed more than 30 plays. He is particularly known for directing the Gujarati film ' ...

adapted

Vinodini Nilkanth Vinodini Ramanbhai Nilkanth (9 February 1907 – 29 September 1987) was a Gujarati writer, translator, and academic. She wrote novels, essays, short stories, journalist columns, and children's literature. Early life Vinodini Nilkanth was born ...

's short story ''Dariyav Dil'' for the film ''

Kashino Dikro ''Kashino Dikro'' () is a 1979 Indian Gujarati film directed by Kanti Madia. Being the first and the only film of Madia, it starred Rajiv, Ragini, Rita Bhaduri, and Pranlal Kharsani. The film was produced by Cine India International. Adapted fr ...

'' (1979).

Babubhai Mistry Babubhai Mistry (5 September 1918 – 20 December 2010) was an Indian film director and special effects pioneer who is best known for his films based on Hindu mythology, such as ''Sampoorna Ramayana'' (1961), ''Mahabharat'' (1965), and ''Parasm ...

directed a dozen films between 1969 and 1984. Dinesh Raval directed twenty six hit films including: ''Mena Gurjari'' (1975), ''Amar Devidas'' (1981) and ''Sant Rohidas'' (1982). Actor-director Krishna Kant, popularly known as KK, directed about a dozen Gujarati films including: ''Kulvadhu'' (1977), ''Gharsansar'' (1978), ''Visamo'' (1978) and ''Jog Sanjog'' (1980). These films were critically as well as popularly well received. KK had long and successful acting career in Hindi and Bengali cinema too.

Mehul Kumar Mohammed Ibrahim Baloch (or Bloch; born 1949), better known as Mehul Kumar, is an Indian filmmaker and writer in Bollywood.Meru Malan'' (1985). '' Jesal Toral'' (1971) directed by

Ravindra Dave Ravindra Dave (16 April 1919 – 21 July 1992) was an Indian film director, producer, editor and screenwriter. He directed more than 30 Hindi films in the 1950s and 1960s including several hits like ''Nagina'' (1951), '' Agra Road'' (1957), ''Po ...

was one of the biggest hits of Gujarati cinema. He also directed over twenty-five films popular with audiences.

Chandrakant Sangani Chandrakant Sangani ( – 28 July 1997) was an Indian Gujarati language director, writer and actor from Gujarat, who worked predominantly in Gujarati cinema. Biography Sangani was born in Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India. Sangani started his car ...

directed the musical film ''Tanariri'' (1975), based on the Gujarati folk-lore of

Tana and Riri Tana and Riri is an Indian story about two girls born around 1564, who were asked to sing in the court of Akbar. The story has become part of Gujarati folk culture. The twins were from a northern town known as Vadnagar near Visnagar in the state ...

, which highlighted a little-known side of

Akbar Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar (25 October 1542 – 27 October 1605), popularly known as Akbar the Great ( fa, ), and also as Akbar I (), was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Hum ...

who is usually presented as a consistently benign ruler. He also directed ''Kariyavar'' (1977) based on the novel ''Vanzari Vaav'' by Shayda. ''Sonbai ni Chundadi'' (1976), directed by Girish Manukant, was the first Gujarati

cinemascope CinemaScope is an anamorphic lens series used, from 1953 to 1967, and less often later, for shooting widescreen films that, crucially, could be screened in theatres using existing equipment, albeit with a lens adapter. Its creation in 1953 by ...

film. ''Mansai na Deeva'' (1984), directed by Govind Saraiya, was based on the novel of the same name by

. Subhash J. Shah directed several popular films: ''Lohi Bhini Chundadi'' (1986), ''Prem Bandhan'' (1991), ''Oonchi Medina Ooncha Mol'' (1996), ''Parbhavni Preet'' (1997), and ''Mahisagarna Moti'' (1998). From 1973 to 1987, Arun Bhatt produced several films matching the production values of Hindi films. He made several films with urban backgrounds such as ''Mota Gharni Vahu'', ''Lohini Sagaai'' (1980) based on the novel by Ishwar Petlikar, ''Paarki Thaapan'', ''Shetal Tara Oonda Paani'' (1986) which were commercially as well as critically successful. His movie ''Pooja na Phool,'' made in the early 1980s, won him an award for the Best Film from the Government of Gujarat and was also telecast on

Doordarshan Doordarshan (abbreviated as DD; Hindi: , ) is an Indian public service broadcaster founded by the Government of India, owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of Prasar Bharati's two divisions. One of India's largest b ...

in the Sunday slot for regional award-winning films. ''

Bhavni Bhavai ''Bhavni Bhavai'' ( gu, ભવની ભવાઈ; ''The Tale of the Life'') is a 1980 Gujarati film directed by Ketan Mehta, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Smita Patil, Mohan Gokhale, Benjamin Gilani. It tells the story of untouchability ...

'' (1980), directed by

Ketan Mehta Ketan Mehta (born 21 July 1952) is an Indian film director who has also directed documentaries and television serials since 1975. Early life and education Born on 21 July 1952 in Navsari in Gujarat, Mehta did his schooling from Sardar Patel V ...

, was produced by National Film Development Corporation, the Sanchar Film Cooperative Society, and a district bank in

Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ; Gujarati: Amdavad ) is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per ...

. Though the film was not a folk theatre form of

Bhavai Bhavai, also known as ''Vesha'' or ''Swang'', is a popular folk theatre form of western India, especially in Gujarat. Etymology ''Bhavai'' may derive from the Sanskrit word ''Bhava'', meaning expression or emotion. It is also associated wit ...

, it incorporated several elements of it. It was praised for performances and camerawork, and won awards such as the National Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, the

National Film Award for Best Art Direction The National Film Award for Best Production Design is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India. It is one of several award ...

for Meera Lakhia, and another award at the Nantes festival in France. The Parsi Gujarati film ''

Percy The English surname Percy is of Norman origin, coming from Normandy to England, United Kingdom. It was from the House of Percy, Norman lords of Northumberland, derives from the village of Percy-en-Auge in Normandy. From there, it came into use ...

'' (1989) directed by Pervez Merwanji won the National Award for the Best Feature Film in Gujarati at the

37th National Film Awards The 37th National Film Awards, presented by Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India to felicitate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 1989. Ceremony took place in Ma ...

. ''

Hun Hunshi Hunshilal ''Hun Hunshi Hunshilal'' (; English Title: ''Love in the Time of Malaria'') is a 1992 Indian Gujarati-language musical political satire film directed by Sanjiv Shah. Plot In the kingdom of Khojpuri, King Bhadrabhoop II (Mohan Gokhale), is annoy ...

'' (1991), directed by Sanjiv Shah, was an

allegory As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a hidden meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory t ...

film inspired by the political environment of the time and was felt to be post-modern. In 1998, '' Desh Re Joya Dada Pardesh Joya'' directed by Govindbhai Patel became very successful and went on to become a super-hit. The film grossed , the highest in the Gujarati cinema at that time, with 1.5

crore A crore (; abbreviated cr) denotes ten million (10,000,000 or 107 in scientific notation) and is equal to 100 lakh in the Indian numbering system. It is written as 1,00,00,000 with the local 2,2,3 style of digit group separators (one lakh is eq ...

(15 million) people watching the film.

Vipul Amrutlal Shah Vipul Amrutlal Shah (commonly known as Vipul Shah) is a film producer and director of Hindi films. He began his career with Gujarati theater. He was part/director of a number of Gujarati dramas, some of which were well received by Gujarati audie ...

produced and directed ''Dariya Chhoru'' in 1999 which was well received by the critics but failed commercially. Other hit films of 1990s were '' Manvini Bhavai'' (1993), ''Unchi Medi Na Uncha Mol'' (1997) and ''Pandadu Lilu Ne Rang Rato'' (1999).

Upendra Trivedi Upendra Jethalal Trivedi (14 July 1936 4 January 2015) was an Indian film and stage actor, director and producer who was one of the most prolific actors of Gujarati cinema. As an actor films like '' Mehndi Rang Lagyo'' (1960), ''Jogidas Khuman' ...

was one of the most successful Gujarati actors and producers. He produced ''Jher To Pidhan Jaani Jaani'' (1972) based on the epic novel of the same name by Manubhai Pancholi 'Darshak'. He also produced, acted and directed in ''Manvi ni Bhavai'' (1993) based on the novel of the same name by

. The film was widely appreciated and went to win the National Award for the Best Feature Film in Gujarati at the

41st National Film Awards The 41st National Film Awards, presented by Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India to felicitate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 1993. Ceremony took place in 199 ...

Arvind Trivedi Arvind Trivedi (8 November 1938 – 6 October 2021) was an Indian actor and politician from Gujarat. He, alongside his brother Upendra Trivedi, was prolific in Gujarati cinema for over 40 years. He became a household name for playing the role ...

, Mahesh Kanodia,

Naresh Kanodia Naresh Kanodia (20 August 1943 – 27 October 2020) was an Indian Gujarati film actor, singer, musician and politician from Gujarat. Early life Naresh Kanodia was born on 20 August 1943 at the village of Kanoda (now in Patan district, Gujar ...

Rajendra Kumar Rajendra Kumar Tuli (20 July 1927 – 12 July 1999) was an Indian actor who starred in Bollywood films. Starting his career in 1949, he appeared in more than 80 films in a career spanning over four decades. He was popularly known as the 'Jubil ...

Asrani Govardhan Asrani (born 1 January 1940), popularly known simply as Asrani, is an Indian actor and director whose Bollywood career has spanned five decades. He has acted in over 350 Hindi films. Asrani has played the lead roles, character roles ...

Kiran Kumar Kiran Kumar (born as Deepak Dhar; 20 October 1953) is an Indian screen and theatre actor. He has worked in numerous Hindi, Bhojpuri and Gujarati television and film productions. His latest work in drama is ''Charlie 2''. Personal life Kumar co ...

, Rajiv, Arvind Kirad,

, and

Hiten Kumar Hiten Kumar, born Hiten Mehta, is an Indian actor in Gujarati cinema. Career He started in the Gujarati film industry with a role in ''Unchi Medina Uncha Mol'' (1998). His 1998 film '' Desh Re Joya Dada Pardesh Joya'' was a commercial superhit. H ...

had long and successful careers.

Ramesh Mehta Rameshwar Nath "Ramesh" Mehta, (born 7 August 1923) is an Indian playwright, director, actor and translator. Biography Mehta moved to Delhi in 1942 in search of a job after his graduation. His farce ''Under Secretary'' has been translated in ...

and P. Kharsani were popular for their comic roles. Popular Gujarati film actresses included: Mallika Sarabhai,

Rita Bhaduri Rita Bhaduri (4 November 1955 – 17 July 2018) was an Indian film and television actress.she has also work in Gujarati cinema. Career She initially appeared as supporting actress in various Bollywood films during the 1970s, 1980s, and 199 ...

Aruna Irani Aruna Irani (born 3 May 1946) is an Indian actress, who has acted in over 500 films throughout Hindi, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati cinema, playing mostly supporting and character roles. She has won two Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Ac ...

, Jayshree T., Bindu,

, and Snehlata.

Avinash Vyas Avinash Vyas was an Indian music composer, lyricist and singer of Gujarati films who composed music for over 190 Gujarati films. He was a winner of Gujarat State Film award for the best lyricist and best music 25 times. He was honoured by the ...

was one of the major composers of the Gujarati cinema who wrote music for 168 Gujarati films and 61 Hindi films. His son Gaurang Vyas was also a composer who wrote the music for ''Bhavni Bhavai''. Mahesh-Naresh composed the music for several Gujarati films including ''Tanariri''. Another notable music composer was Ajit Merchant. Some 368 Gujarati feature films and 3,562 Gujarati short films were produced by 1981. The Gujarat Film Development Corporation (GFDC) established to promote Gujarati films was closed in 1998. The quality of the films declined due to the focus on recovering the financial investments and profits as well as not adapting to changing times, technology and demographics. Low budget films with compromised quality targeted rural audiences while urban audiences moved to television and Bollywood films with quality content as they had a fair understanding of the

Hindi language Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been ...

Revival (2001–present)

Fewer than twenty films a year were produced in the early 2000s. In 2005, the government of Gujarat announced a 100%

entertainment tax Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have developed over thousand ...

exemption for U and U/A certified films and 20% tax on A certified films. The government also announced subsidy for Gujarati films. There was an increase in the number of films produced after 2005 due to the tax exemption and the rise in demand for films in rural

north Gujarat North Gujarat (), the Northern part of Indian state of Gujarat includes the districts of Gandhinagar, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mehsana, and Patan. North Gujarat is dominant in the dairy industry. Currently, the water table of th ...

, especially

Banaskantha district Banaskantha district is one of the thirty-three districts of the Gujarat state of India. The administrative headquarters of the district is at Palanpur which is also its largest city. The district is located in the Northeast of Gujarat and is pre ...

. The demand was fueled by the working class population demanding local musical and linguistic styled films which were mostly released in single screen cinemas. The number of films produced per year was over sixty in 2009 and 2010. In 2012, the Gujarati cinema produced a record number of seventy-two films. '' Maiyar Ma Mandu Nathi Lagtu'' (2001) directed by Jashwant Gangani, starring Hiten Kumar, was well received. The film's sequel was released in 2008. ''Gam Ma Piyariyu Ne Gam Ma Sasariyu'' (2005) and ''Muthi Uchero Manas'' (2006) were also well received by audiences. ''Dholi Taro Dhol Vage'' (2008) directed by Govindbhai Patel, was produced by

Reliance BIG Pictures Reliance Entertainment Pvt Ltd is an Indian media and entertainment company. It is a division of Reliance Group, handling its media and entertainment business, across content and distribution platforms. The company was founded on 15 February 20 ...

Vikram Thakor Vikram Thakor is an Indian actor and musician. He has acted in several commercially successful Gujarati films. Career Early life Vikram Thakor is a native of Fatehpura village near Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Thakor started singing and playing ...

starred in several films including '' Ek Var Piyu Ne Malva Aavje'' (2006). His six films for rural audiences earned . He was called the superstar of Gujarati cinema by various media. Hiten Kumar, Chandan Rathod,

Hitu Kanodia Hitu Kanodia (born 21 February 1970) is Gujarati film actor and politician from Gujarat, India. Biography Hitu Kanodia was born on 21 February 1970 to actor-politician Naresh Kanodia and Ratan Kanodia. He has studied 12th grade. He started hi ...

, Mamta Soni, Roma Manek and

Mona Thiba Mona Thiba is a Gujarati film actress from Gujarat, India. She has also acted in Hindi and Bhojpuri films. She started her acting career in 2000. She married actor-politician Hitu Kanodia on 14 August 2014 in Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ; G ...

are popular among rural audiences. '' Love Is Blind'' (2005) was the first Gujarati film released in the

multiplexes In telecommunications and computer networking, multiplexing (sometimes contracted to muxing) is a method by which multiple analog or digital signals are combined into one signal over a shared medium. The aim is to share a scarce resource - a ...

. The ''Better Half'' (2008) directed by

Ashish Kakkad Ashish Kakkad (21 May 1971 – 2 November 2020) was an Indian film director, writer, actor and voice artist from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He primarily worked in the Gujarati cinema. Biography He was interested in theatre and film production since hi ...

failed commercially but drew the attention of critics and an urban audience. It was the first Gujarati film on super 16 mm format. '' Little Zizou'', a 2009 film in Hindi, Gujarati, and English, written and directed by Sooni Taraporevala, won the Silver Lotus Award or ''Rajat Kamal'' in the

National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare The National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India. It is one of several ...

category at the

56th National Film Awards The 56th National Film Awards, presented by Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India to celebrate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 2008. Three committees were ins ...

. ''Muratiyo No. 1'' (2005) and ''Vanechandno Varghodo'' (2007), both starring Devang Patel, were big budget films but had moderate collections. In August 2011, the Gujarati film industry reached a milestone, having produced over a thousand films since the beginning of the talkies. '' Veer Hamirji'' (2012) was an historical film which was shortlisted for Indian representation at the Oscars. '' The Good Road'' (2013), directed by Gyan Correa, won the Best Feature Film in Gujarati at the

60th National Film Awards The 60th National Film Awards ceremony was an event during which the Directorate of Film Festivals presented its annual National Film Awards to honour the best films of 2012 in the Indian cinema. The ceremony was held on 3 May 2013 and was hos ...

and later became the first Gujarati film ever selected to represent India at the

Oscars The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

. The film won the Best Feature Film Jury Award at the Indian Film Festival, Houston in October 2013. ''

Kevi Rite Jaish ''Kevi Rite Jaish'' is a 2012 Indian Gujarati-language drama film directed by Abhishek Jain and produced by Nayan Jain. The film is a satire on the fascination and obsession of the Patels' – a Gujarati farmer community – migration to the U ...

'' (2012) and ''

Bey Yaar ''Bey Yaar'' () is a 2014 Indian Gujarati-language coming-of-age film directed by Abhishek Jain. The film is about friendship and two friends. The film stars Manoj Joshi, Darshan Jariwala, Divyang Thakkar, Pratik Gandhi, Amit Mistry, Samvedna Su ...

''(2014), both directed by

Abhishek Jain Abhishek Jain is an Indian film director and producer known for his Gujarati films ''Kevi Rite Jaish'', '' Bey Yaar'', and ''Wrong Side Raju''. Early life Abhishek Jain was born on 3 August 1986 in Ahmedabad. He is a Marwari Jain. He received ...

; became commercially and critically successful drawing an urban audience. The success of these films drew new actors, directors and producers to the Gujarati film industry which resulted in a spurt in film productions. ''

Gujjubhai the Great ''Gujjubhai The Great'' ( gu, ગુજ્જુભાઈ ધ ગ્રેટ) is a 2015 Gujarati comedy film directed by Ishaan Randeria. It is presented by Nakshatra Entertainment and produced by Devendra N. Patel in association with Siddhart ...

'' and ''

Chhello Divas ''Chhello Divas – A New Beginning'' ( en, The Last Day – A New Beginning) is a Gujarati coming of age comedy film, written and directed by Krishnadev Yagnik. The movie stars Malhar Thakar, Yash Soni, Mitra Gadhavi, Aarjav Trivedi, Rahul R ...

'' were declared hit films of 2015. The box office collection of Gujarati films increased from in 2014 to in 2015. Total 65 and 68 films were released in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Total number of screens playing Gujarati films rose from 20 to 25 in 2011 to about 150–160 in 2015. The

subsidy A subsidy or government incentive is a form of financial aid or support extended to an economic sector (business, or individual) generally with the aim of promoting economic and social policy. Although commonly extended from the government, the ter ...

by the Government of Gujarat was discontinued in August 2013. Three years later, in February 2016, a new incentive policy was announced which was focused on the quality of films. Films are graded in four categories, A to D, based on technical aspects, production quality, film components, and box office performance. The producers are provided with assistance of for A grade, for B grade, for C grade and for D grade films or 75% of production costs whichever is lower. A film can also receive additional incentives for its performance at film festivals and awards nominations/wins. The multiplexes are also directed to have at least forty-nine screenings of Gujarati films per year. The entertainment tax exemption for Gujarati films released in Gujarat ended with an introduction of the Goods and Services Tax in July 2017. The industry continued to grow due to improvement in production quality, increased use of technology, increased film marketing and new subjects targeted at youth. About 50 to 70 films are released each year between 2016 and 2018. The International Gujarati Film Festival made its debut in

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delawa ...

, US in August 2018. ''

Wrong Side Raju ''Wrong Side Raju'' (Stylized ''Wrong Side રાજુ'') is a 2016 Indian Gujarati thriller drama film directed by Mikhil Musale. Starring Pratik Gandhi, Kimberley Louisa McBeath, and Asif Basra, it is inspired by a hit and run in Ahmedabad ...

'' (2016), '' Dhh'' (2017), '' Reva'' (2018) won the Best Feature Film in Gujarati awards at the 64th, 65th and

66th National Film Awards The 66th National Film Awards ceremony was the award ceremony which took place in 2019 to honour the best films of 2018, in the Indian cinema. The declaration of awards was delayed due to 2019 Indian general election. Selection process The Dire ...

respectively. ''

Hellaro ''Hellaro'' () is a 2019 Indian Gujarati period drama film co-written and directed by Abhishek Shah and produced by Ashish Patel, Nirav Patel, Aayush Patel, Prateek Gupta, Mit Jani and Abhishek Shah under the banner of Saarthi Productions and H ...

'' (2019) became the first Gujarati film to win the

National Film Award for Best Feature Film The National Award for Best Feature Film is one of the categories in the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India. It is one of se ...

at the 66th National Film Awards. ''

Chaal Jeevi Laiye! ''Chaal Jeevi Laiye!'' () is a 2019 Indian Gujarati-language comedy-drama road film written and directed by Vipul Mehta. Produced by Rashmin Majithia, the film stars Siddharth Randeria, Yash Soni and Aarohi Patel. The soundtrack was composed by ...

'' (2019) became the highest-grossing film of Gujarati cinema grossing over . Due to

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

, all cinema halls in Gujarat were ordered to be closed from March to October 2020. They were closed again in March–April 2021 due to resurgence of the pandemic. ''

Chhello Show ''Chhello Show'' () is a 2021 Indian Gujarati-language coming-of-age drama film directed by Pan Nalin. It stars Bhavin Rabari, Bhavesh Shrimali, Richa Meena, Dipen Raval and Paresh Mehta. The film premiered at the 20th Tribeca Film Festival on ...

'' (2021), directed by

Pan Nalin Nalin Kumar Pandya or Pan Nalin is a filmmaker of Indian origin. Nalin is best known for directing award-winning movies like Samsara, Valley of Flowers, and Angry Indian Goddesses. His debut feature SAMSARA (Miramax) was worldwide critical ...

, was selected as the Indian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the

95th Academy Awards The 95th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), will honor films released in 2022, and is scheduled to take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on March 12, 2023. Comed ...

. According to film producer Bhavesh Upadhyay and publicist Chtan Chauhan, the annual business of Gujarati cinema had reached about by 2022. , the average film production cost ranges between and and around 60 Gujarati films are released in each of the recent years.

Subjects

The scripts and stories of the Gujarati films include relationship and family oriented subjects, as well as human aspirations and Gujarati family culture. There were a large number of films based on mythological narratives and folklore produced in the early years of Gujarati cinema. The lives of popular saints and ''sati''s of Gujarat, like

and

Gangasati Gangasati was a medieval saint poet of bhakti tradition of western India who composed several devotional songs in Gujarati language. Biography No authentic information regarding her life is available as her songs and life story were chiefly transm ...

, were made into films. They were targeted at rural audiences familiar with the subjects. The early filmmakers also included subjects dealing with social reforms. There were social films associated with family life and marriage such as ''Gunsundari'' and ''Kariyavar''. The historical, social and religious subjects dominated through 1940s and 1950s. Several Gujarati films were adapted from Gujarati novels and stories such as ''Kashino Dikro''. There was a spurt again in the 1970s for saint/sati films. In 1980s and 90s, the films were influenced by the Hindi cinema and several action and romance films were produced. In the early 2000s, films were targeted chiefly at rural audiences demanding local narratives with local linguistic style. Following 2005, the introduction of urban subjects led to a revival of the Gujarati cinema. In 2010s, the films which are more relevant to audiences were produced. Though the comedies continue to succeed at the box office, the films were produced exploring other genres and new themes as well. The films focused on large Gujarati diaspora are also produced.

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links

Gujarati cinema
at

IMDb IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

{{Gujarati language Gujarati culture